Tongs



1927- J, A. NELSON wons Filed April mveNT R pro RuzY Patented Aug. 2, 1927. I

"YUNI'T'ED JoHn N'roN NELSON, orB ER'rR Nn, NEBRASKA.

My present invention has reference to an improved tongs tor gripping and carryingice, blocksor rock salt, boxes or'in fact'any other article which can be impinged with-' out inflicting injury'thereto and my object is the provision of a tongs for this purpose in which the greater strain upon the handle portion thereof will result in amore effeca position, will latch the jaws open.

tive gripping of the jaws of the device with the object engaged therebetween' and further wherein the handle, when moved to one To the attainment ofthe above broadly stated objectsand others which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement further resides in certain novel features of construc 1 tion, combination and operative association of parts, a satisfactory embodiment of which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a face view of a pair of tongs in accordance with this invention, the aws being latched in open position. a

Figure 2 is a sectionalview on the line 22 of Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation to better illustrate the connection between the handle and the arm end of the jaws, parts being in section. 7 I I Figure 4 is an edge View of the construction disclosed in Figure 3. x

The jaws each comprise an arched body 1, that has its outer end extended inwardly to provide the same with a'prong 2. The

arched bodies are, of. course, directed toward each other and merge into angle portions 3 which are in lapping relation and which are pivotally connected, as at 4. From the angleport-ions 3, each jaw merges into what may be termed. an outwardly extending straight arm 5.

The handle of the improvement comprises anarched member 6,to whose ends there are pivoted, as at 7, yokes 8. These yokes receive therethrough the outerends of the arms 5, a pivot Q'connecting the said yokes to the said ends of the arms. The connect .ing portion for the arms of each of the substantially U-shaped yokes is not in contact with the arms 5 when the jaws are in spread condition, and these portionsof the yokeaindicated by the numeral 10, bein" reduced and to accomplish this the sides 0 "wolves.

Applicatlo n filed A ril 21;1926. seriarm. 103,577.

dicated by the numeral 13. The lug 12 is designed to be received in a rounded depression or pocket 14 in one of the jaws 1, at a,

point a suitable distance from the pivot 4. Vl' ith my improvement it will be noted that when. the handle 6 is moved toward the jaws, as disclosedby Figure 1 of the drawings, the spring plate 11 will move over one of the 'jawsto bring its lug into the pocket 14 and thereby lock both of the jaws in open position. When the prong 2 of either of the'jaws isinserted in an articleto be raised and carried, an outward pull on the handle 6 by the operator will cause the spring latch 11 to move out of. the pocket 14 and away from the jaws. Such movement swings the yokes to the positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, causing the ends 10 of the said yokes to contact with the inner edges of the arms 5. of the jaws, thus swinging the jaws toward each other to cause their prongs to effectively engage an article therebetween, and it will be apparent that the greater the weight and con sequent "strain caused by such article wi l only eflect in causing the aws to be'swung Into tighter grlpping engagement therewith,

outwardly from such article.

WVhile my improvement 18 primarily de- 7 I vised for use for lifting, and conveying blocks ofice it has been found equally as successful in other employments, such for like articles.

Having described the invention, I claim z- I L A pair of tongs, comprising arched jaws having their outer ends formedwith rArEiN OFFICE.

this, of course, when the handle is pulled I instance, in handling rock salt, boxes and I inwardly extending prongs and their opposite ends arranged at different angles and disposed in lapping relation and pivotally connected, said angle portions mergin into oppositely directed straight arms, a substantially U-sha'ped yoke arranged around and pivoted to the end of each arm, a substan tially U-shaped handle having its ends pivoted tothe yokes and a spring catch fixed to one of the arms and adapted forinterlatching engagement with one of the jaws When the handle is moved in the direction of the jaws.

2. A pair 01 tongs, comprising arched' jaws having their outer ends formed With inwardly extending prongs andtheir opposite ends arranged at different angles and disposed in slapping relationand pivotally connectechsaid'angle portions merging into oppositely directed straight arms, a substan-- .tially 'U-shaped yoke arranged around and rounded lug on the inner face thereof, and "the jaw adjacent the plate having a rounded pocket to reoelve the lug therein When the handle is moved toward the jaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

V In testimony whereof I atfix my signatuie.

JOHN ANToN NELsoN. 

